Pyramid of Pride Awards

The WDA Board of Trustees has voted to suspend the Pyramid of Pride Awards for one year only to celebrate the WDA’s 150th Anniversary with a gala on Nov. 13, 2020 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton, Wis. The awards program will return in 2021. Nominations will be accepted for the 2021 Pyramid of Pride Awards.

Judging of all awards, with the exception of the WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award, will be done by the WDA Board of Trustees. The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award will be selected by the WDA Foundation Board of Directors. All nominations must include a completed nomination form and a letter from the nominator indicating how the nominee meets the criteria and why they should be considered for the award. In addition, nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award must include a current curriculum vitae. A dentist nominated in any of the award categories must be an American Dental Association member.

PURPOSE
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the WDA’s highest honor. It was established to recognize an individual dentist who has given time, energy and expertise to the organizations representing dentistry throughout his/her career.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a dentist who has accomplished the following:

20 or more years of continuous membership in the WDA

Participation in the professional affairs of local, state, regional and/or national dental organizations

Has made a significant contribution to organized dentistry throughout their lifetime

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Community Outreach Award

PURPOSE
To honor an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization who has systematically provided exceptional service to the public, of a nature which reflects great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may be individuals or organizations who have contributed to dentistry in the “Purpose” section of these guidelines. Nominees need NOT be a dentist; however, all dentists who are nominated must be members of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award recognizes a member of the dental community that supports the mission of the WDA Foundation.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the mission of the WDA Foundation in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA Foundation or other dental foundations

Support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged

Involvement in WDA Foundation

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Foundation Executive Committee will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Friends of Dentistry Award (new in 2010)

PURPOSE
The WDA Friends of Dentistry Award honors an entity that makes ongoing contributions to the mission of the WDA.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed in any combination of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA

Involvement in WDA programs

Service on a WDA committee, sub-committee or task force

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

Media Relations Award

PURPOSE
The Media Relations Award honors a dentist or team of dentists who have utilized mass communications to promote the WDA and its mission as detailed in the WDA Long Range Plan.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must be dentists(s) who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will review select no more than TWO recipients in any one year.

Media Awareness Award

PURPOSE
The Media Awareness Award recognizes a member of the print or broadcast media industry for demonstrating a commitment to inform and educate the general public about the importance of oral health and/or dental-related issues in Wisconsin.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

New Dentist Leadership Award

PURPOSE
The New Dentist Leadership Award recognizes the efforts of a WDA member dentist for significant involvement in organized dentistry at the local, state and/or national levels.

NOMINEE CRITERIA

Nominees must be dentists who have been out of dental school for 10 years or less who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as they relate to new dentist issues and who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select up to THREE recipients per year.

Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring

PURPOSE
This is an award to recognize a member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in mentoring. The recipient of this award will be forwarded as that year’s entry into the ADA Golden Apple Award in the “Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring” category.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The eligibility and entry guidelines for the Pyramid of Pride Outstanding Leadership Award, which are identical to the ADA’s guidelines are as follows:

Must be an ADA (WDA) member who demonstrates outstanding mentorship ability

Nominations must include:

A copy of the nominee’s c.v. (not more than 3 pages)

Supporting essay of not more than 1,500 words detailing leadership qualities, professional and ethical conduct, and volunteer activities as a mentor

Letters of recommendation from those mentored (not to exceed 2 pages each) will be considered

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Political Action Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Political Action Award honors an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization that has increased member involvement on the grassroots level to further WDA legislative interests.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must have worked to promote the WDA legislative interests in one or more of the following areas:

Fund solicitation or contributions to WIDPAC and the Direct Giver program

Hosting and/or attending political action fundraisers

Participating in local campaign efforts

Coordinating letter writing campaigns or phone trees on important issues

Testimony on issues of concern to the dental profession

Nominees who are dentists must be members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Award of Honor (formerly President’s Award of Honor)

PURPOSE
The WDA Award of Honor recognizes individuals and organizations for contributions and activities that reflect great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the dental profession in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the Wisconsin Dental Association

Advancement of the art and science of dentistry

Provision of exceptional service to the dental community

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

Judging of all awards, with the exception of the WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award, will be done by the WDA Board of Trustees. The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award will be selected by the WDA Foundation Board of Directors. All nominations must include a completed nomination form and a letter from the nominator indicating how the nominee meets the criteria and why they should be considered for the award. In addition, nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award must include a current curriculum vitae. A dentist nominated in any of the award categories must be an American Dental Association member.

PURPOSE
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the WDA’s highest honor. It was established to recognize an individual dentist who has given time, energy and expertise to the organizations representing dentistry throughout his/her career.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a dentist who has accomplished the following:

20 or more years of continuous membership in the WDA

Participation in the professional affairs of local, state, regional and/or national dental organizations

Has made a significant contribution to organized dentistry throughout their lifetime

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Community Outreach Award

PURPOSE
To honor an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization who has systematically provided exceptional service to the public, of a nature which reflects great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may be individuals or organizations who have contributed to dentistry in the “Purpose” section of these guidelines. Nominees need NOT be a dentist; however, all dentists who are nominated must be members of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award recognizes a member of the dental community that supports the mission of the WDA Foundation.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the mission of the WDA Foundation in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA Foundation or other dental foundations

Support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged

Involvement in WDA Foundation

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Foundation Executive Committee will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Friends of Dentistry Award (new in 2010)

PURPOSE
The WDA Friends of Dentistry Award honors an entity that makes ongoing contributions to the mission of the WDA.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed in any combination of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA

Involvement in WDA programs

Service on a WDA committee, sub-committee or task force

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

Media Relations Award

PURPOSE
The Media Relations Award honors a dentist or team of dentists who have utilized mass communications to promote the WDA and its mission as detailed in the WDA Long Range Plan.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must be dentists(s) who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will review select no more than TWO recipients in any one year.

Media Awareness Award

PURPOSE
The Media Awareness Award recognizes a member of the print or broadcast media industry for demonstrating a commitment to inform and educate the general public about the importance of oral health and/or dental-related issues in Wisconsin.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

New Dentist Leadership Award

PURPOSE
The New Dentist Leadership Award recognizes the efforts of a WDA member dentist for significant involvement in organized dentistry at the local, state and/or national levels.

NOMINEE CRITERIA

Nominees must be dentists who have been out of dental school for 10 years or less who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as they relate to new dentist issues and who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select up to THREE recipients per year.

Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring

PURPOSE
This is an award to recognize a member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in mentoring. The recipient of this award will be forwarded as that year’s entry into the ADA Golden Apple Award in the “Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring” category.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The eligibility and entry guidelines for the Pyramid of Pride Outstanding Leadership Award, which are identical to the ADA’s guidelines are as follows:

Must be an ADA (WDA) member who demonstrates outstanding mentorship ability

Nominations must include:

A copy of the nominee’s c.v. (not more than 3 pages)

Supporting essay of not more than 1,500 words detailing leadership qualities, professional and ethical conduct, and volunteer activities as a mentor

Letters of recommendation from those mentored (not to exceed 2 pages each) will be considered

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Political Action Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Political Action Award honors an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization that has increased member involvement on the grassroots level to further WDA legislative interests.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must have worked to promote the WDA legislative interests in one or more of the following areas:

Fund solicitation or contributions to WIDPAC and the Direct Giver program

Hosting and/or attending political action fundraisers

Participating in local campaign efforts

Coordinating letter writing campaigns or phone trees on important issues

Testimony on issues of concern to the dental profession

Nominees who are dentists must be members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Award of Honor (formerly President’s Award of Honor)

PURPOSE
The WDA Award of Honor recognizes individuals and organizations for contributions and activities that reflect great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the dental profession in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the Wisconsin Dental Association

Advancement of the art and science of dentistry

Provision of exceptional service to the dental community

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

Judging of all awards, with the exception of the WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award, will be done by the WDA Board of Trustees. The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award will be selected by the WDA Foundation Board of Directors. All nominations must include a completed nomination form and a letter from the nominator indicating how the nominee meets the criteria and why they should be considered for the award. In addition, nominations for the Lifetime Achievement Award must include a current curriculum vitae. A dentist nominated in any of the award categories must be an American Dental Association member.

PURPOSE
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the WDA’s highest honor. It was established to recognize an individual dentist who has given time, energy and expertise to the organizations representing dentistry throughout his/her career.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a dentist who has accomplished the following:

20 or more years of continuous membership in the WDA

Participation in the professional affairs of local, state, regional and/or national dental organizations

Has made a significant contribution to organized dentistry throughout their lifetime

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Community Outreach Award

PURPOSE
To honor an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization who has systematically provided exceptional service to the public, of a nature which reflects great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may be individuals or organizations who have contributed to dentistry in the “Purpose” section of these guidelines. Nominees need NOT be a dentist; however, all dentists who are nominated must be members of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Foundation Philanthropic Award recognizes a member of the dental community that supports the mission of the WDA Foundation.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the mission of the WDA Foundation in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA Foundation or other dental foundations

Support of projects that provide dental care for the disadvantaged

Involvement in WDA Foundation

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Foundation Executive Committee will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Friends of Dentistry Award (new in 2010)

PURPOSE
The WDA Friends of Dentistry Award honors an entity that makes ongoing contributions to the mission of the WDA.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed in any combination of the following ways:

Material contributions to the WDA

Involvement in WDA programs

Service on a WDA committee, sub-committee or task force

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

Media Relations Award

PURPOSE
The Media Relations Award honors a dentist or team of dentists who have utilized mass communications to promote the WDA and its mission as detailed in the WDA Long Range Plan.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must be dentists(s) who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will review select no more than TWO recipients in any one year.

Media Awareness Award

PURPOSE
The Media Awareness Award recognizes a member of the print or broadcast media industry for demonstrating a commitment to inform and educate the general public about the importance of oral health and/or dental-related issues in Wisconsin.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than TWO recipients in any given year.

New Dentist Leadership Award

PURPOSE
The New Dentist Leadership Award recognizes the efforts of a WDA member dentist for significant involvement in organized dentistry at the local, state and/or national levels.

NOMINEE CRITERIA

Nominees must be dentists who have been out of dental school for 10 years or less who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as they relate to new dentist issues and who are members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select up to THREE recipients per year.

Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring

PURPOSE
This is an award to recognize a member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in mentoring. The recipient of this award will be forwarded as that year’s entry into the ADA Golden Apple Award in the “Outstanding Leadership in Mentoring” category.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
The eligibility and entry guidelines for the Pyramid of Pride Outstanding Leadership Award, which are identical to the ADA’s guidelines are as follows:

Must be an ADA (WDA) member who demonstrates outstanding mentorship ability

Nominations must include:

A copy of the nominee’s c.v. (not more than 3 pages)

Supporting essay of not more than 1,500 words detailing leadership qualities, professional and ethical conduct, and volunteer activities as a mentor

Letters of recommendation from those mentored (not to exceed 2 pages each) will be considered

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than ONE recipient in any given year.

Political Action Award

PURPOSE
The WDA Political Action Award honors an individual, a team of individuals, or an organization that has increased member involvement on the grassroots level to further WDA legislative interests.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees must have worked to promote the WDA legislative interests in one or more of the following areas:

Fund solicitation or contributions to WIDPAC and the Direct Giver program

Hosting and/or attending political action fundraisers

Participating in local campaign efforts

Coordinating letter writing campaigns or phone trees on important issues

Testimony on issues of concern to the dental profession

Nominees who are dentists must be members in good standing of the WDA.

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.

WDA Award of Honor (formerly President’s Award of Honor)

PURPOSE
The WDA Award of Honor recognizes individuals and organizations for contributions and activities that reflect great credit on the dental profession.

NOMINEE CRITERIA
Nominees may have contributed to the dental profession in any of the following ways:

Material contributions to the Wisconsin Dental Association

Advancement of the art and science of dentistry

Provision of exceptional service to the dental community

RECIPIENTS
The WDA Board of Trustees will select no more than FIVE recipients in any given year.